Can God Trust You?

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 1

In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” (2 Chronicles 1.7)

Devotional Thought: As I read the first chapter of 2 Chronicles, I was struck by God's question to King Solomon, "Ask what I shall give you."  God displayed great trust in the one he had chosen as king.

Why was the Lord able to trust Solomon with such a question?

• The Lord was with him (vv 1).  Solomon hadn't wandered off by himself, seeking to do his own thing.  God was not a stranger to him.  He walked with God!

• The Lord made him exceedingly great (v. 1).  Solomon was not a self-made man but rather a God-made man.  When God makes us, he makes us holy and good and wise.

• Solomon worshiped (v. 6).  He may have been the sovereign of the nation, but Solomon recognized who was truly The Sovereign.  In worship, he recognized that all things were under God.

• Solomon showed humility (vv. 8-10).  It's easy for success to go to our heads, to begin to think, "Look at the great things I've done."  Then we no longer rely upon God.

• Solomon put others ahead of himself (v. 11).  He didn't ask for things for his own benefit, but rather for the ability to benefit those he led and served.

This question is not confined to princes and prophets.  God offers the same deal to all of us.  Jesus said, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15.7).  As we remain in Jesus, he "gives us the desires of our hearts" - puts his desires in us - so that he is able to trust our hearts as much as he trusts his own.  The key is to remain in him.

Can God trust you?

Prayer: Lord, it is an amazing thought that you would say to anybody, "Ask what you wish..."  How much more amazing that you would say that to me.  Lord, form the desires of my heart so that they conform to yours.  Enable me to want the things that you want so that you can trust me!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 59:10-17

10 My God in his steadfast lovewill meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

11 Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield!

12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter,

13 consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah

14 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.

15 They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill.

16 But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.

17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.